Trains.com

All Post War Repair Experts, Help me!!!

1005 views
11 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
All Post War Repair Experts, Help me!!!
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, February 2, 2005 4:50 PM
My old postwar 2034 I mentioned in Restoring a Old Lionel Locomotive,
does not run. When I put it on the track, it will go about a inch than stop.
There is no sparks, it just goes 1 inch.


Please Help me!!!!!

Thanx,

Colin
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, February 2, 2005 5:10 PM
Well, what have you done, or not done... oiled? cleaned?
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, February 2, 2005 5:29 PM
Hello

Tyr oiling the machinery.

Bert and Mary Poppins
  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Frankfort, Kentucky
  • 1,758 posts
Posted by ben10ben on Wednesday, February 2, 2005 6:11 PM
I'd hardly call myself an expert, but I'll take a stab at this problem.

I've been thinking about it since I suggested that you start a separate topic, and the only thing that I can come up with it e-unit problems, or specifically a dirty drum.

To remove the motor, first remove the front truck assembly using the two screws on the bottom front. Lift the truck straight off, and remove it from the crossheads(they should slide right out). Then, remove the screw right in front of the cab on top of the boiler. The motor should now fall out, attached still by the headlight wire. The headlight socket should snap out in some way, freeing the entire assembly.

Once out, locate the e-unit. It's the part with the large silver lever sticking up from it. At this point, my best advice would be to spray some TV tuner cleaner from Radio Shack into the bottom open part, and wipe up as much as possible with Q tips.

Set the motor on the track, power it up, and it should run better than it has. If you get no response, wiggle the lever on top around until you hear the e-unit start buzzing, accompanied by the engine moving.

Let us know if this gets you anywhere, and we can proceed from there.
Ben TCA 09-63474
  • Member since
    October 2003
  • 390 posts
Posted by SPFan on Wednesday, February 2, 2005 6:23 PM
It may be one of the armature windings is open. Next time you try to run it and it stops, give it push making sure the wheels turn (not just slide). If it starts and stops again let us know. You will need an ohmeter to verify that is the problem. Let us know what hapens.

Pete

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, February 2, 2005 6:34 PM
Colin I have had that prblew with a 2025 that I was working on. It turned out there was a load of grease on the commutator/brushes. Take off the brush plate and clean the brushes until they shine again. Then spray a generous amount of degreaser on the commutator. Take the q-tips and mop it until the q-tips come out clean. It should be fine after this. Also, make sure the grooves between the sections are crystal clean. Hope this helps.

Also do as Ben said, spray the eunit plunger with tv tuner.

Jerry
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, February 2, 2005 6:57 PM
Thanx guys I'll try that...

L-valley railroad, I WD40ed it. I cleaned it up with some WD40 then I got it with a paper towl.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, February 2, 2005 7:09 PM
Hello Snell50,

Did that work, the WD40 thing. I hope it did, it is sad to see a fellow young 3 railer with an engine that will not run.

Bert and Mary Poppins
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Watkinsville, GA
  • 2,214 posts
Posted by Roger Bielen on Wednesday, February 2, 2005 8:42 PM
Caution: Don't spray WD40 into an energized electrical item, it can ignite, especially a motor.
Roger B.
  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Southeast Florida
  • 134 posts
Posted by Back2Trains on Wednesday, February 2, 2005 9:39 PM
be sure to clean the brush holders also.
jim
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, February 3, 2005 6:17 PM
Yeah it did work. Thanx for the simpothy Bert & Mary Poppins.


(Just call me Colin)

  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Over the Rainbow!
  • 760 posts
Posted by eZAK on Friday, February 4, 2005 8:31 AM
Colin,

Is your engine working now?

One thing I would like to mention.
I would not use WD 40 any were near my trains.
It is flammable and corrosive to some paint and plastics.

Use Q-tips & denatured alcohol for cleaning and
a needle oiler and approved grease (Lionel or Red & Tacky)

Check here for a kit http://www.lionel.com/Products/Findex.cfm
Relax, Don't Worry, Have a Home Brew!</font id="size2"> Pat Zak</font id="size3">

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month